Take the West Nile Virus Quiz
When dealing with West Nile virus, prevention is your best bet. Protecting yourself against mosquito bites reduces your risk of getting this disease, along with others that mosquitoes can carry.
1. West Nile virus belongs to a group of viruses known as flaviviruses. How are these viruses spread?
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Other flaviviruses include those that cause yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, and dengue. The West Nile virus was first discovered in the United States in 1999, although it was originally isolated in Uganda in 1937. Besides the United States, it is found most often in Africa, West Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. In this country, the virus has developed into a summertime epidemic that continues into the fall, according to the CDC.
3. Which group of people is at higher risk for becoming seriously ill with West Nile virus?
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Infants and people older than 50, particularly those with weakened immune systems, are at risk for becoming seriously ill from the virus. Certain occupations put a person at higher risk for getting bitten by an infected mosquito. These include farmers, foresters, landscapers, gardeners, painters, roofers, pavers, construction workers, laborers, mechanics, and other outdoor workers, according to the CDC.
5. Which of these is a serious complication of West Nile virus infection?
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About one person in 150 will develop severe illness after getting infected by the West Nile virus. This is called West Nile encephalitis or West Nile meningitis. A person with either of these illnesses usually must be hospitalized; in some cases, these illnesses can be fatal. Symptoms of severe illness, according to the CDC, include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness, and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks.
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